Political integration was never supposed to be easy for Europe. As a people who have endured a history of political and social change, Europeans take pride in their respective nationalities in addition to the various ethnicities, religions, and cultures which comprise their identity. Thus, Europeans view national sovereignty as integral to the nation-state, an entity which represents the collective interests of its citizens. Naturally, European states clung to their sovereignty following the Second World War, but began moving in the direction of integration after realizing that mutual cooperation within Europe suited their best interests. In hindsight, integration within Europe has far exceeded initial expectations, as it has led to the establishment of a coherent European governing entity in the European Union (EU) and the creation of the Eurozone as a common market facilitated by the euro. However, European integration has had its fair share of opposition in the form of euroskepticism, broadly understood as wide-ranging criticism of the deepening of integration efforts and widening of membership. This euroskeptic sentiment has reached a fever pitch in recent years, as Europe has been mired in the ongoing Eurozone crisis, a consequence of the global recession of 2009 which has upset the political and economic stability of numerous Eurozone countries. The following pages are dedicated to exploring the nature of euroskepticism in national party politics and its importance as a democratic and reforming force within the EU. I will proceed by first breaking euroskepticism down conceptually, then by using the U.K. as a case study, and finally by discussing its contemporary relevance and revolutionary potential.
Characterizing Euroskepticism
Before discussing specific characteristics of euroskepticism, the concept must be understood within an academic mindset. It is important to note that the term euroskepticism cannot be considered a formal political...